Electrotherapeutical device



Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

1,617,157 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. HERDMAN, 0F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

ELECTROTHERAPEUTICAL DEVICE.

Application filed August 31', 1922. Serial No. 585,391.

My invention relates to electrothreapeutical devices andpertainsspecifically to that class of said devices which employs highfrequency electricity a the curative agent. 7

The principal object of my invention comprises producing means wherebythe patient may, by self-treatment utilize both the d rect and indirectmethods of application and thereby realize the full advantages andbenefits othigh frequency treatment without requiring the assistance ofan operator or second party.

I accomplish this by a. novel applicator or electrode of relativelysmall current carrying capacity incorporated in the high frequencycircuit of a high frequency generator, in such novel manner that thefull potential generated in the secondary of the static transformer ismanifested between my novel applicator andthe regular applicator, as

will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of thisspecification,I have illustrated diagrammatically a common form of high frequencygenerator, showing my device incorporated therein.

Referring now to the drawing, I employ an electromagnet 10 provided witha rheo tome comprising the vibrating member or armature 14: secured tothe fixed support 16, and the adjustable contact member 15.- Oneterminal of the winding of the electromagnet 10 is connected to thecontact member 15,

.while the remaining terminal is connected to a binding post 11. Thefixed support 16 is connected through conductor 24 with binding post 12,and the binding posts are intended to be connected to any convenientsource of either D. C. or 'A. C. current supply. The action of theclectromagnet 10 in rapidly vibrating the rheotome is well known andneeds no further explanation.

I further provide a static transformer comprising the prlmarv winding 31and the "secondary winding 30. The primary 31 is connected throughconductor 32 with a binding post 21, wlnch 1s in turn connected throughconductor 22 with'the fixed support 16 of the rheotome. The remainingteri'ninal' of the primary 31 is connected through conductor 33 with abinding post which is in turn connected through condenser 19, ad-

'ustable non-inductive resistance 18 and con ductor 17-.to theadjustable contact 15 of the rheotome. The condenser 19, primary ofstatic transformer, and adjustable resistance 18 are thus all connectedin series and in a normally closed circuit which includes the twoelements of the rheotome. The second ary of the static transformer isconnected through one terminal with one terminal of the primary 31,While the remaining terminal of the secondary is connected to a metalsocket 28 adaptedto receive a glass or metal electrode or applicator 29,such as is commonly used with high frequency generators of this type.The static transformer and electrode socket are usually contained in aninsulating handle.

My novelapplicator comprises, a condenser 25 of predetermined capacityconnected at one terminal through conductor 23' with binding post 21,and at the other terminal to a metal electrode socket 26. An electrode27 of the sponge type is adapted to fit into the socket 26. Thecondenser 25, and

It will be observed that, as the magnet 10 rapidly vibrates therheotome, condenser 19 will be alternately charged .and discharged, at ahigh rate of speed. Further as the discharge takes place through a pathof low resistance and reactance, the discharge is oscillatory, and thedischarge cura rent alternates at an excessively high frequency.Therefore, as the action of the static transformer 30-31 consists inamlifying the voltage,'there is manifest at the terminal 28 of thesecondary 30 a high fre-- quency current of high tension suitable forapplication to the human body. Tlus (11S? charge may means of theadjustable non-inductive resistance '18, which usually consists ofatotal specific resistance of less than one ohm, and as small incrementsof resistance are added to the oscillatory circuit by means of thisrheostat, the peaks of the condenser discharge are flattened to diminishthe energy,

without diminishing the rate of o-zcillation.

In the common application of high frequency current, the patient placc'sthe glass electrode 29 upon the afliicted portlon of the body and thecurrent enters the body at this point, but does not penetrate deeply asit charges the surface of the body in much the same manner as acondenser is charged.

The other method of applying the current consists in substituting ametal electrode for be regulated in intensity by the glass electrode 29,and while the patient holds this electrode in the hand, an operator orsecond party massages the afflicted part. In this method of treatment,the current flows through the patient from the point of contact of themetal electrode to the point of contact of the operator with thepatient, and the current can, therefore be,

directed to any portion of the body and at the same time be forced totravel through the body at or near the afflicted portion thereof. Thislatter method is obviously the better, but it requires the assistance ofa second party and it is to obviate this difliculty that my invention isdirected.

It will be observed that if the patient holds electrode 29 or the metalsubstitute therefor and at the same time applies electrode 27 to theafllicted portion of the body, the two contacts with the body constitutethe two terminals of the secondary 30 of the and the source of supplyconnected to binding posts 11 and 12.

From the foregoing it will be readily observed that with my noveldevice, one may successfully and safely apply high frequency otherterminal of the secondary coil of said.

transformer connected conductively with the source of high frequencyelectrical generations. Y

2. In an electrotherapeutical device, a static transformer, a firstapplicator connected to one terminal of the secondary of said statictransformer a condenser of small capacity connected conductively withthe source of high frequency electrical generations, and a secondapplicator connected through said condenser to the other terminal of thesecondary of said static transformer. In testimony whereof I aifix mysignature.

' J. HERDMAN.

